Smallholder farmers’ experiences of climate variability and change on pineapple production in Ghana: Examining adaptation strategies for improved production

2018

English

Climate variability and change presents enormous risk to agricultural production globally due to the impacts on yields. While global scholarship on climate change impacts and adaptation measures on agriculture has been well-documented, little is known about climate and pineapple production. This study examined smallholder pineapple farmers experiences of climate variability and change on production, as well as ranked adaptation options using data from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data consisted of survey and focus group discussions in four major pineapple growing districts in Ghana. The analysis revealed that pineapple farmers experience climate variability and change evidenced mainly through irregular rainfall patterns and rising temperatures. These changes cause reduction in fruit size and yield, change in colour and taste, and consequently, reduction in income from pineapple production. Although diverisification of livelihood away from pineapple cultivation emerged as the main adaptation option employed by smallholder pineapple farmers studied, it has the potential to reduce pineapple production in Ghana. For improvement and sustainability of the pineapple industry in Ghana, future studies should investigate the vulnerabi lity of the product ion system to changing cl imate to effectively identify exposure and sensitivity of pineapple production to climatic changes. This will in effect, enhance identification of measures that will improve production as well as promote adaptation of the smallholder production systems to climate variability and change.

Williams, P. A.; Larbi, R. T.; Yeboah, I.; Frempong, G. K.